Nigeria on High Alert as NCDC Warns of Ebola Importation Risk from DRC, Uganda

Dr Abdou Sebushishe (L) Senior Health Advisor at International Medical Corps, guides and shows CBCA Virunga doctors how to properly put on single-use personal protective equipment provided by International Medical Corps, as part of support for Ebola virus disease prevention measures in Goma, on May 21, 2026

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has raised fresh concerns over the risk of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) entering Nigeria, following ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Although no Ebola case has been confirmed in Nigeria, the agency warned that increased regional transmission, cross-border movement, and international travel have significantly heightened the danger of importation.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, revealed that the agency’s latest assessment classified Nigeria’s risk level as “high.”

According to the statement, the assessment was based on the continued spread of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, uncertainty surrounding the true scale of the outbreak, and the possibility of delayed detection because Ebola symptoms often resemble those of malaria and Lassa fever.

The agency noted that several Nigerian states have already been identified as vulnerable due to their proximity to international borders, busy transport corridors, and major entry points.

The NCDC also disclosed that health authorities in the affected countries are intensifying surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory testing, infection prevention protocols, and public awareness campaigns to contain the outbreak.

“We are aware of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and recent reports of a confirmed imported case in Uganda linked to the outbreak in DRC,” the agency stated.

As part of Nigeria’s preparedness strategy, the NCDC said the national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been placed on alert mode, while the country’s incident management system has been activated to strengthen coordination and emergency response capacity.

The agency stressed that Nigeria still possesses critical structures and expertise developed during previous outbreaks of Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic diseases.

According to the NCDC, the country currently maintains functional emergency operations centres, trained rapid response teams, established viral haemorrhagic fever preparedness systems, and laboratory capacity capable of supporting swift outbreak detection and response.

“Epidemiologists and rapid response teams are on standby for immediate deployment to any affected state if necessary,” the statement added.

The agency further disclosed that laboratories in states with international entry points have been placed on high alert, while efforts are underway to strengthen sample collection and transportation systems for faster diagnosis of suspected cases.

Beyond medical preparedness, the NCDC said it has intensified public communication efforts aimed at countering misinformation and false claims surrounding Ebola.

The agency explained that it is working closely with media organisations, healthcare workers, community leaders, and digital platforms to promote accurate information, strengthen public awareness, and curb the spread of misleading narratives online.

It also revealed that “Ebola Myths and Facts” materials have already been developed and distributed as part of efforts to combat misinformation and encourage responsible public discourse.